Sciatica can be frustrating, especially when the pain improves only to return again. Recurrent sciatica may cause lower back or buttock pain that travels into the leg, along with numbness, tingling, burning, or weakness. Physical therapy may help address the strength, flexibility, mobility, and movement problems that can contribute to repeated flare-ups.
Quick Facts About Sciatica
Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve becomes irritated or compressed. The sciatic nerve originates in the lower spine and travels through the buttocks and down the legs.
Several factors may contribute to sciatic nerve irritation, including prolonged sitting or standing, repetitive or heavy lifting, poor posture, and spinal conditions such as herniated or bulging discs, degenerative changes, or arthritis.
Because the sciatic nerve travels into the legs, symptoms may include lower back or buttock pain, pain traveling into the thigh or leg, numbness, tingling, burning sensations, or weakness.
What Is Sciatica?
Sciatica refers to symptoms caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve. This large nerve originates in the lower spine and travels through the buttocks and down the legs.
When the sciatic nerve becomes irritated, symptoms may include lower back or buttock pain, pain traveling into the thigh or leg, numbness, tingling, burning sensations, or weakness. Symptoms can range from mild and occasional to severe enough to interfere with walking, sitting, working, exercising, or sleeping.
Why Does My Sciatica Keep Coming Back?
For some people, sciatica improves for a period of time and then returns. Recurrent symptoms may occur when the underlying factors contributing to sciatic nerve irritation have not been fully addressed.
Herniated or bulging discs, degenerative changes in the spine, reduced flexibility, muscle weakness, prolonged sitting, repetitive lifting, poor body mechanics, and certain movement patterns may all contribute to recurring symptoms.
Treating the current pain is important, but identifying factors that may be contributing to repeated flare-ups can also be an important part of long-term management.
How Physical Therapy May Help Sciatica
Physical therapy focuses on restoring movement and function while addressing physical limitations that may be contributing to symptoms.
A physical therapist evaluates areas such as strength, flexibility, range of motion, posture, balance, movement patterns, and functional limitations before developing an individualized rehabilitation program.
Depending on the patient’s condition, treatment may include therapeutic exercise, stretching, strengthening, mobility exercises, functional activities, and education regarding posture and body mechanics.
Improving Strength and Stability
Weakness in the muscles that support the lower back, pelvis, and core may affect how forces are distributed through the spine during everyday activities.
A physical therapy program may include progressive strengthening exercises designed to improve stability and help the body better tolerate activities such as walking, bending, lifting, standing, and working.
Improving Flexibility and Mobility
Restricted movement in the lower back, hips, or surrounding muscles may also contribute to discomfort.
Appropriate stretching and mobility exercises can help improve movement and reduce unnecessary stress on the lower back. Exercises should be selected according to the patient’s specific examination findings because the same movements are not appropriate for every person with sciatica.
Can Physical Therapy Keep Sciatica From Returning?
No treatment can guarantee that sciatica will never return. However, physical therapy may help address some of the physical factors that contribute to repeated episodes.
Improving strength, flexibility, mobility, body mechanics, and movement control can help patients better manage everyday activities. Patients may also be given exercises and strategies to continue at home to help maintain the progress made during rehabilitation.
Sciatica and Spinal Disc Problems
Sciatica may sometimes be associated with a herniated or bulging spinal disc. When disc material or surrounding inflammation irritates a spinal nerve, pain and other symptoms can travel from the lower back into the buttock or leg.
Depending on the patient’s condition, conservative treatment may include physical therapy along with other appropriate treatments.
At Easy Reach Chiropractic & Physical Therapy, patients are evaluated individually to determine which conservative treatment options may be appropriate for their symptoms and condition.
Other Conservative Treatment Options
Physical therapy may be used alone or as part of a broader treatment plan.
Depending on the patient’s examination findings and condition, care at Easy Reach Chiropractic & Physical Therapy may include chiropractic care, physical therapy and rehabilitation, spinal decompression, laser therapy, therapeutic exercise, and other conservative treatment approaches.
Sciatica After a Motor Vehicle Accident
Lower back injuries following a motor vehicle accident may sometimes produce pain that travels into the buttock or leg.
Trauma from a car accident may affect the spinal discs, joints, muscles, ligaments, or surrounding tissues. If the sciatic nerve or one of the spinal nerves contributing to it becomes irritated, symptoms such as radiating pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness may occur.
New or worsening neurological symptoms following a motor vehicle accident should be properly evaluated.
When Should You Seek Care?
Persistent or recurrent sciatica should be evaluated, particularly when symptoms interfere with walking, working, driving, sleeping, exercising, or other daily activities.
Seek prompt medical attention for significant or progressive leg weakness, loss of bowel or bladder control, numbness around the groin or saddle area, or other severe or rapidly worsening neurological symptoms.
Getting Help for Recurrent Sciatica
Living with repeated episodes of sciatica can make it difficult to remain active and perform normal daily activities.
At Easy Reach Chiropractic & Physical Therapy, we evaluate the patient’s symptoms, movement, functional limitations, and individual needs to develop an appropriate treatment plan.
Physical therapy may help improve strength, flexibility, mobility, and function while addressing factors that may be contributing to recurring sciatic symptoms.
If sciatica continues to return or is interfering with your everyday activities, contact Easy Reach Chiropractic & Physical Therapy to schedule an evaluation.